Seat belt buckle



May 3, 1966 C R, OUVER I 3,248,769

SEAT BELT BUCKLE Filed Dec. 25, 1963 2f. mum;

INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEY United States Patent() 3,248,769 SEAT BELT BUCKLE Charles R. Oliver, Utica, Mich., assigner to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Dec. 23, 1963, Ser. No. 332,431 6 Claims. (Cl. 24-230) This invention relates to safety devices and more particularly to seat buckles for fastening the free ends of motor vehicle safety belts.

Generally, safety belts for use in automobiles, airplanes and the like are composed of two belt straps, one end of each being afhxed to a bracket which is in turn fixed to the automobile or airplane. The free ends of the belt straps are usually attached to two buckle parts for fastening the belt about the occupant of the seat.

Conventionally, a seat belt buckle includes a release handle which is pivotal to unlatch the free ends of the belt and thereafter the free ends of the belt are separated by the occupant of the seat. A buckle so constructed requires first pivotal motion and -subsequently a lateral separating force in order to be unlocked.

In accordance with the present invention, a quick release metal-to-metal seat belt buckle is provided which is capable of being unlocked and disengaged by the application of a single force in a single direction. This is accomplished by connecting the free ends of the seat belt strap to first and second latching members. An enclosure for the latching members is provided which includes a cover and a base member which are adapted to move together in a plane generally parallel to the latching members. The base member'is provided with camming means and in order to disengage the two buckle parts, it is only necessary for the occupant to grasp the cover and exert a force in a single direction.

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had from the following detailed description which should be read in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view with parts broken away of the seat belt buckle of the present invention in an engaged position;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2 2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view somewhat similar to FIGURE 2 but showing the buckle in an unlocked position;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded view of the seat belt buckle shown in FIGURE l.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown va preferred embodiment of the seat belt buckle of the present invention which comprises first and second buckle parts generally designated and 12 respectively. Each of the buckle parts 10 and 12 are preferably stamped and formed from pieces of sheet metal. As will be more evident hereinafter the buckle is constructed of a minimum number of parts, is easily and quickly assembled and does not require retaining screws or pivot pins which are generally employed in prior art buckles. As previously indicated, the purpose of the buckle is to fasten the free ends of seat belt straps 14 and 16, the other ends of which are suitably attached to'the vehicle floor or seat structure.

The buckle part 10 comprises a cover 18, a base member 20, and a latch plate 22. The cover 18 is provided with downwardly extending side walls 24 and 24 which have inwardly extending flanges 26 and 26 respectively. The cover 18 is also provided with ends walls 30 and 30 which are provided with inwardly extending flanges 34 and 34 respectively. The base member 20 includes a substantially rectangular bottom wall 36 and upstanding rice parallel side walls 38 and 38 which form a guide channel 40. Each of the side walls 3S and 38' includes an angularly disposed lip portion 42 which includes a camming surface 44. The latch plate 22 is generally rectangular in shape and includes an angularly disposed lip portion 46 and a downwardly extending tongue portion 48 and an elongated slot 50. In order to adjustably secure the seat belt strap 14 to the latch plate 22, there is provided a laterally extending lock bar 52. The free end 54 of the strap 14 passes through the slot around the bar 52 and back through the slot 50. If tension is applied to the strap 14, the bar 52 is urged toward the edge 56 of the slot 50 to firmly lock the belt 14 disposed between the bar 52 and the edge 56. To shorten the length of the belt strap 14, it is merely necessary to pull on the free end' 54 which forces the bar 52 forward allowing the belt to pass around the bar 52. In order to lengthen the strap 14, it is merely necessary to rotate the buckle approximately 90 and the belt will be free to move around the bar 52.

When the buckle part 10 is assembled, the side walls 38 and 38 of the base member 20 are supported by the inwardly extending flanges 26 and 26 of the cover 18 and the lip portion 42 rests on the inwardly extending flange 34 in abutment with the end wall 30. The latch plate 22 is supported by the base member 20 and the lip portion 46 rests on the inwardly extending flange 34 of the end wall 30. Springs 58 have one end disposed in slots 60 formed in the latch plate 22 and have opposite ends extending through the slots 62 formed in the base member 20 and normally, yieldingly urge the latch member toward the base member 20 to a latching position.

The buckle part 12, which is often referred to as a locking plate, includes a front portion 64 having portion 64 having side edges 66 which converge toward a front edge 68 and includes a rectangular latch opening 70 Ihaving la transverse abutment edge 72. A belt engaging section 74 is located along the trailing portion of the buckle part 12 and has formed therein an elongated slot 76 through which the belt strap 16 is looped and sewn to effect a secure attachment thereto.

In order to fasten the ends of the straps 18 and 20, the buckle part 12 is inserted into the guide channel 42. As the front edge 68 of the buckle part 12 engages the tongue portion 48 of the latch plate 22, the latch plate 22 will be moved away from the base member 20 until 4the tongue portion 48 registers with the latch opening 70 at which time the latch plate 22 is returned to the latch position by the spring 58. The buckle is then securely latched since applying a force to the straps 14 and 16 engages the tongue 48 wtih the abutment edge 72.

It is apparent from the above that the cover 18 and the base member 20 form an enclosure or housing and also a latch releasing mechanism for the buckle part 12 and the latch plate 22. The cover 18 and the base member 20 are movable together through engagement of the lip portion 42 with the end wall 30 and in order to separate the buckle parts, it is merely necessary to grasp the cover 10 and pull it away from the buckle part 12 whereupon the camming surface 44 lifts the latch plate 2.2 away from the base member 20 to move the tongue portion 48 out of the patch of travel of the buckle part 12.

While there has been described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention it is apparent that numerous alterations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

I claim:

1. A buckle comprising a cover, a base member supported by and adapted to move with said cover, first latching means supported by said base, spring means normally, yieldingly urging said first latching means to a latching position, a lock bar supported by said first latching means for adjustably coupling a seat belt segment to said first latching means, said cover and said base forming an opening in said buckle, second latching means adapted to be inserted in said opening and to be releasably coupled to said first latching means, said base member and said first latching means including cooperating cam means for separating said first and second latching means during movement of said cover away from said second latching means.

2A A seat belt buckle comprising a channel-shaped cover, a base member supported by and movable with said cover, said base member including guide means and cam means, a latch member supported by said base member and including a tongue portion projecting therefrom, said latch member also including a portion in abutment with said cam means, spring means normally, yieldingly urging said latch member to a latching position, a lock bar supported by said latch member for adjustably coupling a first seat belt segment thereto, a locking plate including a transverse abutment edge and adapted to be inserted into said guide means to engage said tongue portion with said abutment edge, said locking plate including an opening for receiving a second seat belt segment, said cam means moving said latch means to disengage said tongue from said abutment edge during longitudinal movement of said cover away from said locking plate.

3. A seat belt buckle for fastening the free ends of two seat belt straps, said buckle comprising a cover member having side walls and end walls, each of said walls including inwardly extending flanges, a channel-shaped base member including an angularly disposed lip portion having a camming surface, a latch member secured to the free end of one of said straps and including an angularly disposed lip portion and a tongue portion, said base being supported by the flanges of the side wallsof said cover and the lip portion of said base abutting one of the end walls of said cover to be movable therewith, said latch member supported by said base member with the lip portion ofsaid latch member engaging the inturned ange of the other of said end walls, spring means normally, yieldingly urging said latch member toward said base, a locking plate secured to the free end of the other of said straps and including a transverse abutment edge, said locking plate adapted to be inserted into said base to engage said tongue with said abutment edge, relative movement in mutually parallel planes between said cover and said locking plate causing said camming surface to move said latch member away from said base to disengage said tongue from said abutment edge.

4. A seat belt buckle for fastening the free ends of two seat belt straps, said buckle comprising a cover member having side walls and end walls, each of said walls including inwardly extending flanges, a channel-shaped base member including an angularly disposed lip portion having a camming surface, a latch member adjustably secured to the free end of one of said straps and including an angularly disposed lip portion and a tongue portion, said base being supported by the anges of the side walls of said cover with the lip portion of said base abutting one of the end walls of said cover to be movable therewith, said latch member supported by said base member with the lip portion of said latch member engaging the inturned flange of the other of said end walls, spring means mounted in said latch member and extending between said cover and said latch member to normally, yieldingly urge said latch member toward said base, a locking plate secured to the free end of the other of said straps and .including a transverse abutment edge, said locking plate adapted to be inserted into said base to engage said tongue with said abutment edge, movement of said cover away from said locking plate causing said camming surface to move said latch member away from said base to disengage said tongue from said abutment edge.

5. A seat belt buckle for fastening the free ends of two seat belt straps, said buckle comprising a cover member having side walls and end walls, each of said walls including inwardly extending flanges, a channel-shaped base member including an angularly disposed lip portion having a camming surface, a latch member adjustably secured to the free end of one of said straps and including an angularly disposed lip portion and a tongue portion, said base being supported by the anges of the side walls of said cover with the lip portion of said base abutting one of the end walls of said cover to be movable therewith, said latch member supported by said base member with the lip portion of said latch member engaging the inturned flange of the other of said end walls, a pair of springs having one end mounted in said latch member and extending between said cover and said latch member to normally, yieldingly urge said latch member toward said base, a locking plate secured to the free end of the other of said straps and including a transverse abutment edge, said locking plate adapted to be inserted into said base to engage said tongue with said abutment edge, movement of said cover away from said locking plate causing said camming surface to move said latch member away from said base to disengage said tongue from said abutment edge.

6. A buckle comprising first and second latching means adapted to be coupled together,

means for adjustably coupling a seat belt segment to said rst latching means,

a hollow housing including means for supporting said first latching means therein and including an opening for receiving said second latching means,

spring means normally yieldingly urging said rst latching means to a latching position,

said housing and said rst latching means being provided with cooperating cam means for separating said first and second latching means during movement of said housing in a direction away from said second latching means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

DONLEY J. STOCKING, BERNARD A. GELAK,

Examiners. 

1. A BUCKLE COMPRISING A COVER, A BASE MEMBER SUPPORTED BY AND ADAPTED TO MOVE WITH SAID COVER, FIRST LATCHING MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID BASE, SPRING MEANS NORMALLY, YIELDINGLY URGING SAID FIRST LATCHING MEANS TO A LATCHING POSITION, A LOCK BAR SUPPORTED BY SAID FIRST LATCHING MEANS FOR ADJUSTABLY COUPLING A SEAT BELT SEGMENT TO SAID FIRST LATCHING MEANS, SAID COVER AND SAID BASE FORMING AN OPENING IN SAID BUCKLE, SECOND LATCHING MEANS ADAPTED TO BE INSERTED IN SAID OPENING AND TO BE RELEASABLY COUPLED TO SAID FIRST LATCHING MEANS, SAID BASE MEMBER AND SAID FIRST LATCHING MEANS INCLUDING COOPERATING CAM MEANS FOR SEPARATING SAID FIRST AND SECOND LATCHING MEANS DURING MOVEMENT OF SAID COVER AWAY FROM SAID SECOND LATCHING MEANS. 